Who the f*ck is? Bernard Foley?
maybe, but Horwill fits the bill as well
Who the f*ck is? Bernard Foley?
The Pfitzy moves in mysterious ways!
The same Crusaders who lost at home to the Rebels?
Well worked try Brumbies.
Hunt's inability to adjust his depth and predilection to kick indicates his inability to play the position. The coach is responsible for picking him there, but you can't deny he's been poor.
The ruck work and passive defensive has been woeful from the Reds.
Fret not.
We'll murder the bums next week!
Watch out Force. Thompson and the Red Eyed stare of JOC (James O'Connor) will destroy you.
Injury free and played well. Although you can't really see it was a searching examination. Brumbies dominated the breakdown and Pocock was heavily involved. Had a few good runs and tackled well too.
It's not as though RG had much choice in regard to available fly-halves. And the speed of the game would have been mind boggling for KH when compared to the one trial game he played fly-half in.
And I don't think it's a good idea to put JOC (James O'Connor) into the position next week - having not played any rugby since December, its just not on.
I know it sounds crazy to be saying this in round 1, but I wonder whether we're seeing some impact from the excess amount of rugby they play these days. Those couple of weeks or solitary month they get off for Christmas might not be enough time to properly recover for the next season.
Specifically a bloke like Horwill, who between the Wallabies and Reds, has played all of his rugby in teams that are significantly understrength in the tight forwards. It must grind you down, to be carrying blokes around you week after week after week(not that he carried anything last night). It's obviously tough on the body, but it must be even tougher on the mind, IMO.
That might be a reasonable hypothesis if we are in round -10 pr 12,I know it sounds crazy to be saying this in round 1, but I wonder whether we're seeing some impact from the excess amount of rugby they play these days. Those couple of weeks or solitary month they get off for Christmas might not be enough time to properly recover for the next season.
Specifically a bloke like Horwill, who between the Wallabies and Reds, has played all of his rugby in teams that are significantly understrength in the tight forwards. It must grind you down, to be carrying blokes around you week after week after week(not that he carried anything last night). It's obviously tough on the body, but it must be even tougher on the mind, IMO.
Really I thought the Reds recruited very well. They have ably covered all positions in the side and have some good development players.
On paper they have a far better pack than the Tahs or the Rebels.
They have too many "development" players. Look at last season where they were shuffling their 21yo "B" players into all sorts of configurations, and not having it come off in any way. Guys like Mike Harris left because they got respect elsewhere, and probably because they see what is happening.
If they stick together then in two years that could be a hell of a backline. But there is fuck all experience, and the guys that ARE there - Genia mostly - are failing at the basics.
FAR better? Based on what?
Maybe their tight five IF they're all fit are equal to the Waratahs and slightly better than the Rebels man-for-man, but as a team it requires Horwill to stop being a complete pillock for long periods, and the rest of them to be fit.
But their backrow is built on a speed game that Link implemented but Graham doesn't want to seem to play. And not can he without the Tapuai or Fainga'a midfield in that case. Put the young blokes on the wing, not defending the hard channels.
To be honest, they'd be better off going back to 10-man rugby for a while and concentrating on set piece attack and defence.
Because if they put JOC (James O'Connor) at 10, its going to be their only option. The Lions series last year was able demonstration of his skills in the pivot role.
Otherwise, Genia has to stop the fucking steppy-steppy-run pass bullshit, put the ball in front of the man, and allow the forwards to run half the distance to get to the next ruck. Because sure as shit they're not fit enough to run backwards 5 metres to every one.
Like the look of Rory Arnold.
I'm not saying he could debut for the Wallabies next week, but I reckon if he gets consistent game time with the Brumbies and works on his height in contact, he could be anything.
I thought we were lucky that JJ was not given a red card in a bout the 6th minute when the Brumbies scored the first try. It was an obvious shoulder charge.The Hunt shoulder was shit. Fainga'a going over the ruck when there was no ruck formed, Horwill off side when the ball was thrown to him, again no ruck formed, reds off feet when under pressure when the brums had gone off their feet first and tackled the player on the ground. I didn't say I thought the Reds were robbed, I just thought it was poorly refereed.
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Sack Graham now!
On paper they have a better depth of coverage for all positions AND they actually have three genuine locks unlike the Tahs with 1 who is not a genuine jumper. Lets not forget that the Tahs last year were barely adequate at scrum time whilst the Reds managed to be dominant. The same arguments can be made about the Rebels with regard to depth, except in the backrow.